american literature first chat for eighth edition

American LiteratureAmerican Literature

First chatFirst chat

Christopher ColombusChristopher Colombus

Christopher Columbus is the author of several Christopher Columbus is the author of several letters detailing his voyages and adventures. We letters detailing his voyages and adventures. We are studying two of them, and they are very are studying two of them, and they are very different.different.

Letter to Luis de Santangel Letter to Luis de Santangel Regarding the First VoyageRegarding the First Voyage

In this letter, Columbus In this letter, Columbus describes the beautiful describes the beautiful scenery and fabulous scenery and fabulous vegetation he vegetation he encounters on his very encounters on his very first trip to “The New first trip to “The New World.”World.”

Espanola is a marvelEspanola is a marvel

He is in awe and He is in awe and describes what he has describes what he has found as best he can, found as best he can, sometimes using sometimes using European references European references like honey bees and like honey bees and nightingales, calling it nightingales, calling it the most beautiful land the most beautiful land man has ever seen.man has ever seen.

Letter to Ferdinand and Isabel Letter to Ferdinand and Isabel Regarding the Fourth VoyageRegarding the Fourth Voyage

In this letter, In this letter, Columbus, imprisoned Columbus, imprisoned and impoverished, and impoverished, begs the Catholic begs the Catholic Monarchs to spare his Monarchs to spare his life. Things have gone life. Things have gone terribly wrong in the terribly wrong in the lands he discovered.lands he discovered.

Columbus’ woesColumbus’ woes

The people Columbus left behind exploit The people Columbus left behind exploit and mistreat the natives and it appears that and mistreat the natives and it appears that Columbus enslaved the natives when he Columbus enslaved the natives when he came back to find the settlement burned. came back to find the settlement burned.

Columbus’ woesColumbus’ woes

Columbus is arrested and dies in disgrace and Columbus is arrested and dies in disgrace and poverty. poverty.

Question for discussionQuestion for discussion

Have these readings changed your Have these readings changed your perception of Columbus?perception of Columbus?

Do you view him as a hero or a villain?Do you view him as a hero or a villain?

Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de VacaAlvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca

Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de VacaAlvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca

The biographical information on Cabeza de The biographical information on Cabeza de Vaca is very interesting. Note that he may Vaca is very interesting. Note that he may have witnessed Columbus being led through have witnessed Columbus being led through Cadiz in disgrace and he was given the name Cadiz in disgrace and he was given the name Cabeza de Vaca (cow’s head) when he used Cabeza de Vaca (cow’s head) when he used a cow’s skull to mark a route through a a cow’s skull to mark a route through a mountain pass.mountain pass.

From “The Relation of Alvar From “The Relation of Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca”Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca”

The selection in our text is from The selection in our text is from Adventures in Adventures in the Unknown Interior of Americathe Unknown Interior of America and and describes the explorer’s adventures and describes the explorer’s adventures and sufferings among the “Indians” of America, the sufferings among the “Indians” of America, the Avavares and the Arbadaos. Avavares and the Arbadaos.


The explorer describes the hunger his men The explorer describes the hunger his men and the Native Americans they lived among and the Native Americans they lived among suffered, subsisting on roots and subsisting on suffered, subsisting on roots and subsisting on blackberries for months. blackberries for months.


When speaking of hunger, our author also When speaking of hunger, our author also notes that the children of the Native notes that the children of the Native Americans were suckled until they were 12 Americans were suckled until they were 12 years old so that they would not die of years old so that they would not die of starvation. starvation.


Cabeza de Vaca describes subsisting by Cabeza de Vaca describes subsisting by bartering with the natives for combs. He puts bartering with the natives for combs. He puts a negative spin on some of the natives’ a negative spin on some of the natives’ customs, like fist-fighting until they are customs, like fist-fighting until they are exhausted and leaving the weak to die on a exhausted and leaving the weak to die on a foraging trip.foraging trip.


Cabeza de Vaca and his men experience Cabeza de Vaca and his men experience great joy when they unite with “Christians” great joy when they unite with “Christians” under the leadership of Diego de Alcaraz. under the leadership of Diego de Alcaraz. Natives bring food for a feast to Alcaraz, and Natives bring food for a feast to Alcaraz, and Cabeza de Vaca gets into a dispute with him Cabeza de Vaca gets into a dispute with him about the fact that Alcaraz wants to make about the fact that Alcaraz wants to make slaves of the Indians. He could not convince slaves of the Indians. He could not convince the natives that he was of the same people as the natives that he was of the same people as the slavers.the slavers.


At the end, though, Alcaraz decieves him. At the end, though, Alcaraz decieves him.

““We thought we had effected the Indians’ We thought we had effected the Indians’ liberty, when the Christians were but poising liberty, when the Christians were but poising to pounce.” (p.1542)to pounce.” (p.1542)

How would you summarize Cabeza de Vaca’s How would you summarize Cabeza de Vaca’s rather complex attitude towards the natives?rather complex attitude towards the natives?

Anne BradstreetAnne Bradstreet

““To My Dear and Loving To My Dear and Loving Husband”Husband”

Bradstreet’s tribute to her husband is a Bradstreet’s tribute to her husband is a beautiful, symmetrical poem that describes beautiful, symmetrical poem that describes everything about their love from them being everything about their love from them being one, to the jealousy of others upon seeing one, to the jealousy of others upon seeing their love, to their love’s eternal nature. Let’s their love, to their love’s eternal nature. Let’s take a look at it on page 120.take a look at it on page 120.

ProloguePrologue

In the prologue to her book of poetry, In the prologue to her book of poetry, Bradstreet humbly asks that her work be Bradstreet humbly asks that her work be taken for what it is and its worth taken for what it is and its worth acknowledged. She speaks of muses and the acknowledged. She speaks of muses and the strengths and weaknesses of both sexes and strengths and weaknesses of both sexes and ends by stating that “this mean and unrefined ends by stating that “this mean and unrefined ore of mine/will make your glist’ring gold but ore of mine/will make your glist’ring gold but more to shine.”more to shine.”

The tenth museThe tenth muse

The nine muses were the nine goddesses of The nine muses were the nine goddesses of the arts and sciences in Greek mythology. the arts and sciences in Greek mythology. Bradstreet counts herself the tenth, and again Bradstreet counts herself the tenth, and again humbly describes her worth.humbly describes her worth.

The attitude towards womenThe attitude towards women

Bradstreet notes that though the muses were Bradstreet notes that though the muses were women, “Men have precedency and still women, “Men have precedency and still excel,/It is but vain unjustly to wage war;/Men excel,/It is but vain unjustly to wage war;/Men can do best and women know it can do best and women know it well/Preeminence in all and each is yours/Yet well/Preeminence in all and each is yours/Yet grant some small acknowledgement of ours.”grant some small acknowledgement of ours.”

How do you feel about those lines?How do you feel about those lines?

““In Memory of My Dear In Memory of My Dear Grandchild”Grandchild”

Elizabeth Bradstreet was one and a half years Elizabeth Bradstreet was one and a half years old when she died, and her grandmother old when she died, and her grandmother laments her passing. Bradstreet, a Puritan, laments her passing. Bradstreet, a Puritan, consoles herself with the thought that all life is consoles herself with the thought that all life is fleeting and in the hands of God. Comments?fleeting and in the hands of God. Comments?

Mary RowlandsonMary Rowlandson

Mary Rowlandson writes of her captivity Mary Rowlandson writes of her captivity among the Wampanoags, and emphasizes among the Wampanoags, and emphasizes that God’s purpose was for her to be useful that God’s purpose was for her to be useful and incite her readers to follow Him. Her work and incite her readers to follow Him. Her work reads like a sermon and uses many biblical reads like a sermon and uses many biblical terms.terms.

The narrativeThe narrative

Rowlandson did not take up arms against the Rowlandson did not take up arms against the Natives, but she was finally given a gun and Natives, but she was finally given a gun and became a defender of her nation against the became a defender of her nation against the British, the same as the males who were British, the same as the males who were protesting British policy.protesting British policy.

Mary RowlandsonMary Rowlandson

Rowlandson feels that the death of her baby Rowlandson feels that the death of her baby girl, separation from her family and other girl, separation from her family and other suffering she endured served a purpose in suffering she endured served a purpose in God’s plan. She ends her narrative:God’s plan. She ends her narrative:

““I have learned to look beyond present and I have learned to look beyond present and smaller troubles and be quieted under them. smaller troubles and be quieted under them. As Moses said, ‘Stand still and see the As Moses said, ‘Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.’”salvation of the Lord.’”

Red JacketRed Jacket

This orator’s name comes from the red jacket This orator’s name comes from the red jacket he was awarded by the British for his services he was awarded by the British for his services as a messenger during the Revolutionary as a messenger during the Revolutionary War.War.

The address to CramThe address to Cram

Our assigned reading is his address to the Our assigned reading is his address to the missionary Jacob Cram in 1805. Red Jacket missionary Jacob Cram in 1805. Red Jacket contradicts Cram’s statement that there is only contradicts Cram’s statement that there is only one way to find God by saying that other ways one way to find God by saying that other ways may be better for other people. He calls Cram may be better for other people. He calls Cram Friend and brother and says, “We do not wish Friend and brother and says, “We do not wish to destroy your religion, or take it from you. to destroy your religion, or take it from you. We only want to enjoy our own.” We only want to enjoy our own.”

The address to CramThe address to Cram

Red Jacket acknowledges the differences Red Jacket acknowledges the differences between the red and white man. Why would between the red and white man. Why would The Great Spirit then not give them different The Great Spirit then not give them different religions? “The Great Spirit does right. He religions? “The Great Spirit does right. He knows what is best for his children. We are knows what is best for his children. We are satisfied.”satisfied.”

Comments?Comments?

Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin demonstrates the 18demonstrates the 18thth Century flair for irony Century flair for irony and satire in “Remarks and satire in “Remarks Concerning the Concerning the Savages of North Savages of North America.”America.”

Who are the savages, really?Who are the savages, really?

When we read of the civilized ways of the When we read of the civilized ways of the Native Americans and the barbarous acts of Native Americans and the barbarous acts of the settlers, we come to the conclusion that the settlers, we come to the conclusion that maybe the natives aren’t the savages maybe the natives aren’t the savages Franklin refers to in the title! Satire is Franklin refers to in the title! Satire is ultimately the art of calling someone an idiot ultimately the art of calling someone an idiot (or a savage) without saying it in so many (or a savage) without saying it in so many words. Comments?words. Comments?

Common senseCommon sense

Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense to convince the Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense to convince the Colonists that it was just logical and sensible to separate Colonists that it was just logical and sensible to separate from England. This is a precursor to the Declaration of from England. This is a precursor to the Declaration of Independence and once again definitely a product of the Independence and once again definitely a product of the 1818thth Century, the Age of Reason and Enlightenment. Any Century, the Age of Reason and Enlightenment. Any comments or questions?comments or questions?

Phyllis WheatleyPhyllis Wheatley

Phyllis Wheatley was both a child prodigy and Phyllis Wheatley was both a child prodigy and a black slave. She was born in Africa, but a black slave. She was born in Africa, but received an education in America that even received an education in America that even white women of her time didn’t enjoy.white women of her time didn’t enjoy.

Phyllis WheatleyPhyllis Wheatley

Wheatley was freed from slavery in the fall of Wheatley was freed from slavery in the fall of 1773, already having written a book of poetry. 1773, already having written a book of poetry. Her owner, Susannah Wheatley, made her Her owner, Susannah Wheatley, made her education and success possible, and education and success possible, and Wheatley launched the black literary tradition Wheatley launched the black literary tradition in this country, though this fact escaped in this country, though this fact escaped literary scholars for years. literary scholars for years.

““On Being Brought from Africa to On Being Brought from Africa to America”America”

This poem expresses both her gratitude for This poem expresses both her gratitude for being brought to America and her view that all being brought to America and her view that all people of all colors can be saved. Let’s read it people of all colors can be saved. Let’s read it together. It’s on page 403.together. It’s on page 403.

““To the University of Cambridge, To the University of Cambridge, in New England”in New England”

Here, Wheatley reminds the students that she Here, Wheatley reminds the students that she is just recently arrived and they who were is just recently arrived and they who were born here and are receiving an education at born here and are receiving an education at Cambridge should follow Jesus to “glory Cambridge should follow Jesus to “glory without end.” They have the advantage and without end.” They have the advantage and should do great things.should do great things.

““To His Excellency General To His Excellency General Washington”Washington”

Full of references to poetry, muses and the Full of references to poetry, muses and the country, this poem to George Washington country, this poem to George Washington uges him to:uges him to:

““Proceed, great chief, with virtue on thy side.Proceed, great chief, with virtue on thy side.

Thy every action let the goddess guide;Thy every action let the goddess guide;

A crown, a mansion and a throne that shine,A crown, a mansion and a throne that shine,

With gold unfading WASHINGTON! Be thine”With gold unfading WASHINGTON! Be thine”

Comments on this author and her works?Comments on this author and her works?

Thanks for sharing!Thanks for sharing!

Any questions or comments now that you Any questions or comments now that you have seen this presentation?have seen this presentation?

american literature first chat for eighth edition

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